C is the Most Important Letter

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

bcisthemostimportantletter

Consistency

It wasn’t that long ago that I wrote a post about the ABCs of running (you can read it here), mostly to remind myself of things I would need to remember when I toe the start line of a race again. Except I still haven’t and right now I have zero plans to do so.

When it comes to the ABCs of running, though, I think C is the most important letter — especially when you pair it with consistency!

woman about to run during golden hour
The key to keeping your body used to running is running consistently | Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com

By consistency I mean just keep running
Although I do advise you to mix it up — explore different locations, run on different surfaces, run easy most of the time but hard occasionally. All those things will keep running interesting.

Variety may be the spice of life, but if you’re not running at least three times a week you’re going to struggle because it’s almost as though you’re learning to run over and over and over again.

In fact, I have friend that will pretty much take the Winter off

You know what? They complain about how hard running is when they start again! That’s because it only takes a few days to start “detraining”.

You don’t have to have aspirations of running faster, or be chasing a PR — but by running consistently you are far less likely to be injured, because you body will remain adapted to running.

Be consistent with rest days, too
A friend recently realized that she hadn’t taken a true rest day in almost 2 months. No wonder she was feeling burned out — and achy.

I have to admit that lately I am getting far fewer true rest days than I’d like, as often my rest days are spent going to my mom. There isn’t a lot I can do about that, though, other than recognize that I’m not getting as much rest as I probably need to pay attention to the feedback from my body.

You should have at least one true rest day a week. That might mean some easy walking or soothing Yoga, but it doesn’t mean a power walk or power Yoga (or hot Yoga, or Ashtanga).

woman covered in white blanket lying on bed
Sleeping in once in a while is no big deal. If you want to become a early morning riser, though, you have to be consistent about getting up early! | Photo by Elvira Gibadullina on Pexels.com

Consistency is the key to almost anything in life
I always say I’d rather you do 10 minutes of Yoga several days a week, rather than an hour long class once a week. When I was playing my flute all through out my school years, that meant practicing — every single day.

Want to get up earlier in the morning? Guess what: getting up early one day a week and late the other six isn’t going to help you make getting up early a habit!

Final Thoughts
Have you ever watched your dog or cat get up after sleeping? They stretch, right? They stretch a lot! Every.Single.Time. It’s part of how they stay limber. They don’t just stretch every once in a while, they stretch after getting up all the time. It’s just their nature.

Run consistently and running will just be your nature, too

You might also enjoy:

5 Cs of Mental Toughness

PRs Don’t Just Happen

Does it Feel Like that Breakthrough will Never Happen?

Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds

What do you think the most important letter for running is?
What did you wish you did more consistently?
What have you learned you need to do consistently to keep running?

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Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner

This week I am also joining up with the new Runners’ Roundup linkup.

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22 thoughts on “C is the Most Important Letter”

  1. Also, C stands for chocolate! 😉

    I fully agree with this, Judy. Consistency is sooo important – with running, sleeping and strength training. It’s in harmony with the way our bodies are designed.

    Having said that, I wish I was more consistent with cross-training! I had plans to bike a lot more than I actually do. I need to work on that going forward.

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  2. Also C stands for coffee.

    Yes we do agree about consistency. Not just for running but all things in life.

    I’m good with the things I enjoy like running walking racing reading seeing my friends and family.

    I have to work in some others. Decluttering cleaning biking.

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  3. I agree about consistency. I run every other day and the days when I don’t run one hour of stretching and/or walking..
    It works and in this way, for now, I succeed in preventing injures.
    However no more speed works but only moderate fartlek.

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  5. Consistency is HUGE with stretching! I do it at least daily and got out of my rut of only doing it when I was “sore”. It has improvement my mobility so much and my workouts go way better. I stay consistent with my rest as well and make sure my Sunday is a calm day!

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    1. People say that to me a lot about Yoga — that their goal is flexibility (although really it’s mobility) — I generally tell them a few moments of Yoga every day is better than a one hour class once a week!

      I have trouble with rest days though — but with all the back & forth to my mom there definitely hasn’t been enough of them.

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  10. Coffee. Cookies. Cari 😀
    Kidding. I do agree about consistency. It makes the routine easier.
    Other than when I’m getting up exceptionally early for sunrise, I rately need an alarm. Set it in case anyway

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